*GARDEN TIP OF THE WEEK*⁠ Aphid Patrol⁠ ⁠ Longer and warmer days in spring bring on quick plant growth—and the arrival of aphids. ⁠ ⁠ Tender new leaves and stems are full of sap, which they suck up with their strawlike mouthparts. While dining on your plants, aphids can spread viruses and leave behind a sticky excretion called honeydew that attracts other undesirable organisms, such as sooty mold. ⁠ ⁠ Here are some tips for managing aphids in your garden:⁠ ⁠ ⁠>>Give Nature a Helping Hand⁠ Keep in mind that the mere presence of aphids is not necessarily a cause for concern. These pests are the primary food source for a variety of insects, so making your garden hospitable to them will help in naturally checking aphid populations. These predator insects include: ⁠ ⁠ • Ladybugs ⁠ • Syrphid flies⁠ • Aphidiid wasps ⁠ • Lacewings⁠ ⁠ Including a diversity of plants that support all life stages of these insects and avoiding the use of pesticides and herbicides will help keep aphids from becomin...